Filmmaker Siddharth P Malhotra, known for his iconic medical dramas like Dill Mill Gayye and Sanjeevani, has brought the medical genre to OTT with his latest series, Doctors, streaming on JioCinema. With the show receiving critical acclaim for its raw and realistic portrayal of medical professionals, Malhotra opens up about the differences between creating a medical drama for TV and OTT platforms.
TV vs OTT: A Shift in Medical Drama
Malhotra reveals that the key difference between TV and OTT medical dramas lies in the storytelling freedom afforded by streaming platforms. Reflecting on his past TV work, he explains:
“In all the episodes of Dill Mill Gayye and Sanjeevani, nobody died. I made almost 1000 episodes of medical dramas and didn’t have one death. People would wonder what sort of hospital this is where nobody dies.”
He attributes this limitation to TV’s focus on romance and melodrama, where the focus is often shifted away from the realities of healthcare. In contrast, on OTT, Malhotra had the freedom to explore multiple storylines and real-life medical issues without the constraints imposed by television regulations.
“On TV, we had to play up the love story and dramatize it. Here, I could focus on the real stories, be it euthanasia, organ donation, or police attacks.”
Realism in Doctors
One of the standout features of Doctors is its realism, something Malhotra had always wanted to bring to the genre. He reveals that the show’s medical cases are based on real-life incidents, and even the portrayal of surgeries and medical procedures was designed to be as accurate as possible.
“We used prosthetics to show heart surgeries and cuts. Our actors were trained by real surgeons for two weeks, and the close-up shots of hands performing surgeries are actually real doctors.”
This attention to detail in realism has been a highlight for audiences and critics alike. The series doesn’t shy away from sensitive topics and portrays the medical profession without the gloss often seen on traditional TV.
Navigating Sensitive Issues: The Euthanasia Debate
One of the most sensitive topics covered in Doctors is euthanasia, a subject that was still in a legal grey area when the show was being shot. Malhotra shares that there was initial hesitation about including the track due to the potential legal challenges it could pose. However, after much deliberation, they decided to include it as part of the show’s realistic portrayal of the medical field.
“We debated the euthanasia track. It was in a legal grey area, but we felt it was an opportunity to address real issues sensitively. OTT allowed us the freedom to do this, which we weren’t allowed to do on TV.”
The Cast of Doctors
Doctors stars Sharad Kelkar, Harleen Sethi, Viraf Patell, Aamir Ali, and Vivaan Shah, who bring the characters and the complex medical cases to life. The series, which premiered on December 27, 2024, continues to receive positive feedback for its realistic, unflinching look at the challenges faced by medical professionals.
Conclusion
Siddharth P Malhotra’s Doctors represents a bold new direction for medical dramas, combining authenticity with sensitive storytelling that has long been missing from mainstream TV. The freedom offered by OTT platforms has allowed Malhotra to push boundaries and deliver a medical drama that resonates with both viewers and critics.
